What Are the Main Restaurant Service Providers?

While the restaurant industry in the U.S. experienced slowed growth during the pandemic, the industry has since boomed and even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Restaurant and foodservice industry sales exceeded $1 trillion in 2023, which is an 8.6% increase from 2022. While the total sales figures for 2024 are not out yet at the time of this writing, many experts projected another 5.4% in growth, amounting to $1.1 trillion.

This increase shows the resilience of the restaurant and foodservice industry which is one of the highest-employed industries in the U.S. and accounts for 2.5% of the United States’ total GDP. However, in order for foodservice businesses and restaurants to succeed, they rely on the help of trusted restaurant service providers to keep their businesses operating at peak performance.

The foodservice industry consists of restaurants and cafés that stand alone or can be found in hotels, malls, universities, grocery stores, country clubs, stadiums, and airports. Ghost kitchens, shared kitchens, catering companies, carry-out businesses, bars, and food trucks are also part of this industry. The staff of foodservice businesses, including managers, chefs, cooks, waitstaff, hosts, and bussers, all play an important role in the function and success of a restaurant.

Yet this industry could not function efficiently without the help of businesses that provide restaurants with important services, such as food producers and distributors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and food and beverage suppliers. Businesses such as uniform providers, pest control professionals, and cooking oil pickup companies also contribute to the success of all types of foodservice businesses.

In this guide, we discuss the main restaurant service providers that are instrumental in the efficient operation and success of restaurants and other foodservice businesses. Those who are opening a restaurant can use this guide as a checklist to ensure they receive the services they need to set them up for success. Some of these services may also be required to keep your business in compliance with local laws and regulations.

1.   Restaurant Uniform Provider

Many foodservice businesses and restaurants require uniforms for their employees that include shirts and pants for the managers, hosts, waitstaff, cooks, and chefs. Restaurant uniform providers deliver professionally cleaned foodservice uniforms, such as chef pants and coats, cook shirts, aprons, and shirts for the host and waitstaff. Many of these providers also offer towels used in restaurants to wash dishes and grills and keep surfaces like tables and bars clean.

Working with a uniform provider will ensure that your staff always looks professional and that your restaurant is stocked with important supplies like aprons, towels, and grill pads.

2.   Soap and Sanitizer Provider

A restaurant should be consistently stocked with ample soaps and sanitizers for their staff and customers. Hand soap dispensers must be available for all members of the staff so they can wash their hands before and after handling food products.

A business that provides soaps, sanitizers, and dispensers will ensure that your restaurant is always stocked with these items for a safer and more hygienic environment.

3.   Fire Suppression and Inspection Company

Where there is heat, there is a risk of fire. To ensure the safety of restaurant kitchens, regular inspections, testing, and services performed by fire protection companies are required. These companies also install and maintain automatic sprinkler systems and fire pumps to protect the restaurant from fire damage.

Restaurants that work with fire protection services to install sprinkler systems can keep small fires isolated and prevent kitchen fires from spreading. These companies install, inspect, test, and repair sprinkler systems to ensure that they are always functional. Emergency lighting systems for restaurants are also an option.

4.   Pest Control Company

Restaurants commonly attract pests, such as flies, mice, and birds that are attracted to the food products. Pest infestations can be detrimental to foodservice businesses as they may violate health codes that can lead to fines and shutdowns and negatively impact their reputation.

Pest control companies can effectively seal entry points to prevent pests from entering the property. They can also respond immediately to manage and eliminate any pest infestation which limits the disruption to your operations, prevents fines and business closure, and protects your reputation.

5.   Waste Pickup Company

All restaurants, large and small generate waste that must be managed and recycled properly. Quality waste pickup companies offer frequent pickup services, sometimes, up to five times per week, to ensure that waste is frequently removed. These businesses also offer a range of dumpster sizes to accommodate the needs of various foodservice businesses.

6.   Deep Cleaning Company

Restaurant staff are unable to handle the time-intensive and complex task of deep cleaning a commercial kitchen. Professional cleaning companies can provide thorough deep cleaning services to ensure that the kitchen is spotless for the next day’s business. Cleaning professionals can effectively clean the floors, equipment, and various surfaces using advanced cleaning products and methods.

7.   Kitchen Equipment Repair and Maintenance Company

Important kitchen equipment such as refrigerators, icemakers, freezers, and exhaust fans can break down at any time which can severely interrupt kitchen operations. An industry-certified kitchen equipment repair and maintenance company can provide routine maintenance to help prevent equipment failures as well as immediate repairs when equipment breaks down.

Ideally, commercial equipment service companies should be authorized by major kitchen equipment manufacturers. Reputable companies service a range of equipment, like broilers, walk-in refrigerators, ice machines, beverage machines, freezers, and exhaust fans. Many also offer 24/7 emergency repair services when equipment unexpectedly breaks.

8.   Grease Trap Cleaning Company

Restaurants that use cooking oil must have grease traps to filter fats, oil, and grease (FOG) from the wastewater and prevent these materials from being washed into the sewer system. If these materials are washed down the drain, they can cause damage to the plumbing and sewer system and pollute the surrounding natural environment. Failure to effectively filter FOG with grease traps may violate local codes which can lead to fines and business closure.

To ensure the function of the grease traps, the traps must be cleaned regularly to remove the built-up FOG. Partnering with a company that provides grease trap cleaning services will ensure that the traps are cleaned regularly. These companies can also provide preventative maintenance and repairs to keep your grease traps functioning properly.

9.   Cooking Oil Pickup Company

Once cooking oil has passed its useful lifecycle in the fryers, the used cooking oil (UCO) must be properly stored so it can be collected. Cooking oil pickup companies provide regular UCO pickups to ensure that used cooking oil is collected, transported, and recycled. The same businesses that provide UCO pickups may also offer fresh cooking oil deliveries to keep your restaurant stocked.

UCO Pickup and Grease Trap Cleaning and Maintenance Services from Mahoney

Today’s restaurant industry continues to experience explosive growth post-pandemic and the aforementioned restaurant service providers are key contributors to the success of foodservice businesses. It is important for foodservice businesses to partner with trusted professionals who provide services that are vital for their growth and success. Also, many of the services mentioned here, such as pest control, waste pickup, grease trap cleaning, and UCO pickup and recycling, are recurring services which makes it even more important to work with reputable businesses.

At Mahoney Environmental, we provide several essential restaurant services including grease trap cleaning and maintenance, cooking oil equipment design and installation, and UCO pickup and recycling:

• Grease trap cleaning and maintenance: We create a schedule with foodservice businesses to regularly clean and maintain their grease traps. We service indoor and outdoor grease traps and can provide repairs as needed to keep the traps functional.
• Cooking oil equipment: Our professionals work with foodservice businesses to design and install cooking oil handling and storage equipment that best suits their needs and the layout of their kitchen. We can also upgrade or replace existing cooking oil equipment.
• UCO pickup and recycling: With our regularly scheduled UCO pickups, our professionals load the UCO into our trucks to transport it to a facility where it can be processed for recycling. These services also include the delivery of fresh cooking oil.

Restaurants and foodservice businesses that work with Mahoney not only help ensure the safe and efficient operation of their kitchens but also help preserve the environment by properly storing and disposing of UCO so it can be recycled and used to produce renewable resources. You can call Mahoney at (800) 892-9392 to learn more.